Method of enhancing growth of plants



c, F. ECKABTA METHOD o-F ENHANCING GROWTH. 0F PLANS'.

I PPLICATKON FILED IUNE12I'192O.

1,372,997, mmm Mar. 29, 1921.

CHARLES F. ECKART, 0F OLAA, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

METHOD or ENHACING GROWTH or PLANTS.

I ,-Specicaton of Letters Patent.

-Applcation filed June 12, 19-20. Serial No. 388,435. v

To all whom it may conce/Mt Beitlrnown that I, CHARLES F. EKART,

a citizen of the United States, residing at and whose post-ofiice address is Olaa, Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii, have invented certain new and use-ful Improvements in Methods of Enhancing Growth of Plants;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled ',bypreventing the growth of weedsvin or about the planting area, by means of a cov-` ering or mulsh, preferably of flexible, water-proof, heat-absorbing material, Superimposed on the planting area, and the formation -of hollows or depressions in the body of the cover, `to collect and retain water, either from rains or applied artificially.` The plant producing stock is planted by forcing-the ends of the same through the covering', within the areas forming the` depressions, into the soil so that any water which may be within the depressions or subsequently collects therein will ,seep through theopening about the stem of the slip or cutting and produce acondition of moisture in the soil highly beneficial to the rooting and subsequent growth and development of lthe plant.

A broadly analogousv method has been described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 325,721, filed September 23, 1919, which, however, differs from the present method in certain essential particulars: Brieiiy stated, the method described in the co-pending application, involves the freeing of the soil area from weeds by hastening the germination Aof the said weeds and bulbs and smothering' the resulting weed plants, by means of an opaque waterproof covering which is superimposed on the soi'll surface, and, following the destruction of the weeds, the making of suitable openings in the covering and lthe setting out of the plants or plant produciilig stock in the weedI freed areas of the soil thus exposed through the` openings. This method, while' highly eiiicacious and productive of entirelysatisfactory results; nevertheless,entailed-the eX- penditure of a preliminary period of time,

l cording to the present invention,

Isible conditions in respectof moisture and varying from a few days to-iive weeks, for exterminating the weeds, before the actual planting operation could be effected. Ac-

however, the covering or mulshing of they planting area to ultimately destroy the weeds, and the setting out oftheplant stock may be effected without any material interval of time intervening between the operations, it being only necessary to produce or permit to be produced or formed inthe covering, a series of depressions, conforming roughlyr to the vcontour of the subjacent ground, by the application of water, either from natural rains4 or lby artificial means' .as by sprinkling the surfaces of the coverings, thereby causing the flexible material of the covering to sag into the depressions of the ground and form basin-like depressions in which the water collects and remains. The uneven extension of parts of the covering after it has become wet, with'the consequent wrinkling induced,.likewise causes the formation of a multitude of small basin-like areas on the covering.- After the depres-` I saving in time in the mulshing and' planting operations is effected, the development of any weeds whateverl in the covered planting area is absolutely prevented, and the stock is planted and developed under the best posheat. lAn exemplary mode of carrying out the method of the,present. invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 representsl a section'of covering material or mulsh, appliedto a planting area, having a series of hollows or depressions formedi therein by'rain 'water or water Vartificially applied, which water is collected in the hollowsor depressions.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View of a portionA of the mulsh'showing the indipressions in the-covering which depressions follow generallythe contour of the ground.

Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing the plant- Patented Mar. 29, 1921. n

vidual pools of' water collected in the demode of applying. the plant stock with respeet to the depressions and water pools contained therein.

In my extensive investigations of the effect of mulshes in suppressing the growth of weeds and enhancing the growth of valuable plants, I have found that, if a suffi' ciently flexible covering or mulsh, such as would be afforded by certain grades of paper, impregnated with asphalt or the' like,

be laid on the surface of the soil, after the first rains fall on the covering or water is applied 'to the surface of the covering by artificial means, small pools of waterl form on the coveringat those points where theV surface of the soil is depressed7 the weight of the water being sufficient to deflect thel material of the covering into the hollows and irregularities of the soil, thereby forming basin-like depressions or hollows in the covering, which latter, because of its waterproof character, retains the pools ofI water until the water is evaporated or is otherwise drained off. I Ahave found by practical experience that these basin-like depressions constitute a valuable adjunct 'to the successfulapplication of the present method, as

will ybe more particularly pointed out herey inafter.

The preferred mode of carrying outlthe method involves the employment of relatively-thin, flexible. opaque, water-proof covering material, which is preferably of ela-rk color and of good heat-absorbing qualities, and which may be of certain suitable grades of paper, impregnated with asphalt or the like. The covering formed by these strips is superimposed on the area to be l planted in contact with the soil surface, af-

ter the land has been suitably prepared to receive the planting material. Normally, the strips constituting the covering lie in relatively flat, smoothA surfaced arrangement on the top of the soil until the occurrence of rains or the application of water to-` the surface of the covering by artificial means. As

. soon as water has been applied to the sur face,the thin, flexible covering sags or flexes .under the weight of thefwater to conform to the numerous irregularities of the prepared surface of the soil` thereby producing a series of basin-like hollows or depressions corresponding generally, in number and position, with the depressions in the soil, `iu Which basins or depressions the water immediately collects, so that the surface of a given strip of the covering or mulsh, after the Water has been applied there-to, will take lplanting areas of the soil immediately after the latter has been suitably prepared, and the planting is donc after the first rain has fallen or after water has been applied artificially in sufficient quantities to form dcpressions iu the body of the covering. As indicated, the planting of the slips. cuttings or other similar planting stock may be readily effected, as the material of the covering is wet and easily punctured and the basins or small pools of water indicate the proper sections or areas for plantingI the stock. A suitable material for the covering, for use iu most cases. is one that is vatcr-proof and that is iuuch softer when wet than when dry, so that the cuttings. or similar plant stock may be pushed through it more easily and will, moreovenl effect a clean puncture without ragged edges or lateral tears or abra- `sions. YIt is preferred that the covering be laid on the surface of planting beds which are somewhat raised, so as to permit of thorough drainage, but, while this is desirable` it is not essential,` as the successful application of the method is not limited to any particular type of planting area, it being only necessary that the latter be prepared in the usual manner to leave the surfaces of the soil somewhat irregular and broken to permit the formation of depressions in the covering.

In preparing the planting stock` the slips or cuttings are preferably sharpened or beveled at their lower or soil-engaging ends and forced through-the covering within the areasl ofthe depressions formed b v the water. either while the water still remains therein. or, if desired, after the water has evaporated. The cuttings may be planted in any part of the respective depressions. but preferably at the lowest points thereof. as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. from which it will be noted that each of the cuttings forms a clear puncture of the. covering and each cutting also plugs the opening which it makes,.so that it islimpossible for any weeds which may subsequently develop to emerge between the cutting and the covering. although the water may readily seep through the covering between the stem of the slip or cutting and the edge. of the punctured hole in the covering. After the planting is effected, while the depressions are filled with water, the latter seeps through the openings in the covering. as described. and is distributed 'about the planted end of thel stock, as illustrated in Fig. 4. thereby affording the best conditions to enhancey th'e rooting7 rapid development and growth of lla') the plants. If it is found that the depresadvisableto occasionally select a planting point at one side'of, but still Within the marmins of, the given' depression, as shoivn in tig 5, in which event, any 'Water in the depression will drain through the-'puncture about the planted stock until it reaches the level of the puncture,-the remaining vWater standing inthe pool 'until it is evaporated. In such cases, the plants or cuttings get part only of the water in the respective pools,

' but this is usually suiiicient to start the active growth and propagation of the plant, and it will be understood that any additional supply ofwater Which comes from natural sources vor.'artiiicialmeans Will collect in the pools or depressions. and 'be drained, through the punctured orifices in the covering, to the 'soil about the plants. Practically all. of the Water which seeps throughlthe punctures in the covering vvill be yavailable for the nonrishment of the plants as the covering effectively seals the waterfin the soil Aandfprevents the evaporation'- thereof.' Any excessive amount of Water which enters the/soil, and cannot be absorbed bythe same, will `ol course drain, therefrom, by seepage.

lt Will be seen that, by the means adopted in this method, cuttings, slips, and' similar "plant .producing stock are induced to take rootand develop more rapidly into the desiredplants than would otherwise be the case,` because a very large portion of the Water which falls upon the 'coverings colf lects in the basin-like depressions vvin Which' the stock is Vplanted and eventually finds its -ivay into the soil about thelrootends 4of the y plants and becomes trapped in the soil zone in nvhichthe iirstformed roots otthe planting stoclr Will rami'fy. .l l

' -Furthermore, the solar heat absorbed ,by the covering material isradiated intol the soil mass underlying tliecoverings, thus' ele- 'rating the temperature ofi" the soil and creating conditions in the soil, in which the cutparticularly i tinge have been set, which are favorable to the latter. -ll-leat and moisture, `Vwith relation to the soil, .are tivo essential and; contributing factors to early and vigorous root development in planting etoclr ol the character indicated. ll'urtherniore, air carried into the soil by thel ivater draining :troni tlic depressions gives the needed aeration, partl rularly in conjunction -with the mit-.let di' age troni. elevated planting beds.

The advantm oit the method. i de scribed, are mai told, and among the same may be niei'rtioned the following:"ll`lie covie placedin position after the ind has been prepared' and is allovvedto remain,

en the grained. during the growth eitthe Athe method that the coverings be i plant producing from the depressions plants, so that any seeds, Weeds or bulbs which may germinate and develop initrally lare promptly suppressed and destroyed by `therefrom can be checkedor hampered by have no covering. success of superimposed onthe planting areas for any considerable length ottime before setting out the stock, or for any greater length of time than is necessary tor the i'ormation of the basin-like depressions by rain oi' by water a-rtilicially'applied. It will also be noted that the cuttings act as pegs for holding lthe covering-.down and prevent the tendency ot the Wind to lift or displace the covering. It has also been observed, in practice', that the number, variation in size, and distribution of tliedepressions aie such that very little departure is usually required regular or uniform system of spacing the plant producing stock, in order that the separate cuttings may be i advantageously set out with lreference `to the depressions. The points ofemcrgence of the cuttings will bear varying relations to the depressions, so that, .under Whatever conditions 'that arise, ivith respect tol the rains or artificial application of moisture, Whether this be heavy or light, a large proportion ofthe cuttings or the resulting plants growing therefrom will find conditions Which arecongenial to them and conducive to their rapid growth and development; 'Iii' the covering were not used,

the'growth of vveeds as the'latter means or egress through the Therefore,'1t is not necessary tothe a's described, it is apparent that all of the cuttings or plants vvould suffer alike from any delicieiicy or excess of moisture. During a. time `oit drought, for instance, a very light rain of briet duration Would, in most cases,` inthe ordinary conventional practice,

simply moisten. temporarily, the surface et the ground without any Water penetrating the soil inte the root zone. lilith the application of the' flexible covering oli Waterprout` material. such as l have described. it ivill be apparent that the sides" et the basinlilre depressions term Water-sheds of varying site which will conduct the rater, even that from a heavy mist, to 'the bottoms of the depressions., and such ciittings or plants as may be included Within the areas o i the will receive the full benefit et the 'Water tlius collected, which` seeps into the root .eene ot the vsubiaeeiit soil. Uu the other hand, during very ivet 'weatlcien since many et the cuttings will `have been. pushed through the covering, wht-ni being, set out, at relatively elevated points with` relation te the bottoms of the depressiena,` it will he seen that such cuttings will be` favored as compared with any cuttings. undersimilar conditions which have not been treated -in accordance with the ,present method.

Again, under thepresenteprocess, when excessively wet conditions prevail, the cutting @ing the covering during the planting operation so thatl when properly carried out, the cutting .seals the aperture so completely as to preclude any chance of weeds coming therethrough. i v

Vhat I claim isi 1. The method of enhancing the growth i and development of plants `from slips, cuttings and similar planting stock, which comprises superimposing on the planting area a flexible covering of water proof material,

forming depressions in'sad covering, and

forcing theplant stock through the coveiing into' the soil within the depression areas.I

2. The ,method of enhancing the growth and development of plants from slips, cuttings and similar planting stock, which comprises superimposing on the planting area a flexible coveringof waterfproof material,

forming depressions in said covering by the .prises superimposing on the planting area a covering of ater proof material in which depressions are formed to hold water, and planting the stock within the boundaries of said-depressions by forcing the ends o the stock through the material ot the covering into the soil.

4.4 The method of enhancing the growth and development of plants troni slips, cuttings and similar plantingv stock, which coinprises superimposing a flexible covering ot water-proof lieat-absorbing material on the planting areas, forming depressions in said covering by the'applicat-ion ot water to the upper surface thereof, and puncturing the covering within the depression areas by means of the planting stock driven through the covering into the soil.

5. The method of enhancing the growth and development of plants from slips, euttings and similar planting stock, which coniprises superiinposing on the planting areas a flexible covering, and planting the plant producing stock through the covering-by forced openings therethrough with the plant producing stock as the puncturing means.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature.

CHAR-LES F. ECKART. 

